Life of a Woman

  THIS SIGN IS IN DRAFT STATUS (October 2023)

“ I have often thought what some of our young ladies of these days would do if placed in a like situation— particularly our city girls —if, at twenty years of age,—for that was the age of Mary, — they were located amongst bears, panthers, wolves, and rattlesnakes, And what would they do? I would like to see a few of them tried, just to learn how they would come through what she so bravely stood up to.”

Meshach Browning, Forty-Four Years of the Life of a Hunter 

Walk in Mary’s moccasins       

Before there was a lake, there was just Deep Creek. The Narrows (at today’s Glendale Bridge) was a favorite trout fishing spot for the Brownings, where Meshach claimed “success was certain” You can still envision fishing from these rocks at the Narrows. 

Commentary      

Much of Mary’s everyday life must have been filled with dreary work and isolation. While Meshach was away from the homestead sometimes for weeks at a time, Mary was left alone with the worry that he may never return. In addition, her work to support the family was physically demanding and monotonous. Her tasks likely included: 

¨ Food preservation and preparation

¨ Tanning, sewing, spinning & weaving

¨ Butter churning

¨ Gardening and livestock care

¨ Breadbaking

¨ Candlemaking and more. 

While Meshach was on hunting expeditions he clearly enjoyed, Mary was keeping the home fires going.

To find out more  

Visit the Spruce Forest Artisan Village in Grantsville.

Many of the artisan skills used by Mary and other women are preserved and practiced here today in a setting of rebuilt log cabins 

Hear the sign narrated here (coming soon)